New Billy The Marlin returns in wild array of colors

Billy The Marlin is back with a new look. And it's, ah, quite bizarre.

If South Florida's favorite 8-foot fish didn't frighten young children with that prominent sword-like bill, wait until they get a look at this multicolored monster bearing down on them.

As expected, Billy reflects the team's new look and colors blue, red-orange, yellow and black.

The blue replacing the former teal on his head is more natural, but the red-orange stripe on the bill makes him look like he dipped it in a can of paint.And the tri-colored fin and pajama pants would be a nightmare on Sesame Street.

"The new look of Billy perfectly complements the new look of the Miami Marlins," said Sean Flynn, Marlins senior vice president of marketing. "By utilizing the same color scheme, which represents Miami and its diverse cultural and geographical mix, we are confident fans will embrace Billy's new style. Just as they have embraced our new brand by buying Miami Marlins tickets and merchandise at record-breaking numbers."

Billy, who has been ranked among the top 10 sports mascots, once lost his head in a famous Opening Day parachute drop gone awry. Wonder if he'll want to hide it now.

And what will the other mascots think?

The new Billy will be making his first appearance in Japan as part of the Marlins' fourth visit to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. The Marlins organization is set to visit U.S. troops stationed in Japan, Guam and Hawaii from Dec, 1  15.